Best Uphill

For all of the adrenaline and fitness junkies, winter not only represents a time to jump on the Aspen Gondola or take deep lines down Temerity at Highlands, but it is also the beginning of skinning, uphilling, and AT skiing. This is for the people who don’t always like to use the lift, but like to climb the mountain with their own two feet and reap the benefit of earning your turns. At the start of the pandemic, like most outdoor activities, we saw a surge of new athletes wanting to partake in this exercise. At the start of 2021 with so much uphill traffic before the mountains open or after they close, Aspen Snowmass instituted a new policy where skiers have to wear a bright orange band. Here are a few great spots to burn calories and breathe in the fresh mountain air:

 

Located on the east side of Buttermilk this has always been the uphillers paradise. You can drive straight there and they have a little parking lot to easily park your car. It is a steep pitch and will get your legs and booty burning. Depending on your speed, expect it to take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour and fifteen minutes up. One of the perks of this area is that you can take your dog!

 

You have to have your skins and skis on by 7 - 7:30 AM to make it up before the Gondola opens at 9 AM. This is the ‘hardest’ of all of the options because of its length and the severity of some of the uphill. There are two options: you can go essentially halfway and have an early morning breakfast at the best mountain restaurant, Bonnies (we highly recommend the oatmeal pancakes). Or you can go to the very top and this will take an experienced skinner about an hour and a half to two hours. The ski down on the fresh corduroy is well worth it. 

 

Probably our favorite because it is the least busy. We suggest going in the morning anywhere from 7:30 - 8 AM and going up midway to Merry Go Round restaurant. You can also bring your dog and this is the perfect skin if you’re with a group and you want to chat.

 

There are two routes that can be used all day. Either you can go up the left hand side of the Elk Camp Gondola for a steady, but manageable uphill. This is the shortest route of all the options and will take less than an hour. If you want to push yourself a bit, start at Base Village and go on the right hand side up to Sam’s restaurant. The best time to do this is mid-day so you can enjoy a grandma pizza and Negroni at the top!